The band takes its name from the New Order song "Love Vigilantes," although their sound tends more to folk, Americana, and country rock than New Wave. Their 2001 album Summershine also showed some movement toward Brit-pop and R.E.M.-style college rock, which would be more fully explored in Mallonee's solo career.
As Big as Christ
Vigilantes of Love Lyrics
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Even though you swear up and down you're my friend
Parting won't be sweet, sweet sorrow
Thank God I won't have to wake up with you tomorrow
In the middle of this long, drawn-out session
In the middle of your gathering depression
Pardon me if I interpose a question
Smaller than your life
I don't know why I feel such great dissatisfaction
Maybe I don't stand in the place where I work and take affirmative action
Baby, when I sleep around, it's a come-and-go reaction
I've been victimized, hypnotized by the latest distraction
See, I have no motivation
I have not any drive
I've got no hunger
Fascination with the higher things in life
Friends say they're so happy
Friends say they're well-fed
They're well-drugged and laid and entertained
So beautiful and deadly boring
Can't you see the landmines so well-placed underneath the skin?
Set to go off in your face
How can I hear Your voice with the noise in my head?
All the clamor for attention from the dying and the dead
Hey, can I come in my chains?
Can I come empty-handed?
Can I come empty-hearted?
You say You demand it
I lie to myself
It's long-overdue
Try to make myself believe the truth isn't true
Big as Christ
Smaller than my life
The song "As Big as Christ" by Vigilantes of Love is a melancholic reflection on the overwhelming feeling of dissatisfaction that comes with the realization of one's own insignificance in the vastness of the world. The lyrics speak of the need to escape a toxic situation before it's too late, even if it means leaving behind a "friend" who adds to the feeling of being lost and directionless. The singer acknowledges that the human condition is rife with distractions, both trivial and profound, that serve to numb the senses and divert attention from the deeper truths that are harder to confront.
The refrain of "Big as Christ, Smaller than your life" is a striking contrast between the vastness of the divine and the pettiness of our own selfish concerns. The use of Christ as the benchmark for comparison underscores the weight of the singer's feelings of insignificance and helps to emphasize the depth of their spiritual longing. The song manages to capture the tension between the longing for something greater and the frustration with the limitations of our own experience in a way that is both poignant and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta get out of here before the rain comes in
I need to leave this place before something bad happens, just to be safe
Even though you swear up and down you're my friend
You claim to be my friend, but I'm not sure I can trust you anymore
Parting won't be sweet, sweet sorrow
Saying goodbye won't feel heartbreaking or sad
Thank God I won't have to wake up with you tomorrow
I'm grateful that I won't have to spend tomorrow with you
In the middle of this long, drawn-out session
Right now, we're stuck in a tedious and boring situation
In the middle of your gathering depression
I can see that you're feeling more and more sad and anxious
Pardon me if I interpose a question
I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have a question to ask
Big as Christ
Whatever I'm about to ask is very important, almost as important as Jesus Christ himself
Smaller than your life
But at the same time, it's not as significant as the whole scope of your existence
I don't know why I feel such great dissatisfaction
I'm not sure why I'm so unhappy and unfulfilled
Maybe I don't stand in the place where I work and take affirmative action
Perhaps I'm not doing enough to make changes in my life and the lives of those around me
Baby, when I sleep around, it's a come-and-go reaction
I tend to seek out physical intimacy as a temporary solution to my emotional problems
I've been victimized, hypnotized by the latest distraction
I'm easily distracted and have been tricked into wasting my time and energy on things that aren't important
See, I have no motivation
I feel like I lack any drive or ambition
I have not any drive
I really, truly can't seem to find any motivation or passion for anything
I've got no hunger
I don't have any real desires or goals that I'm striving towards
Fascination with the higher things in life
I'm really intrigued and captivated by grand, profound concepts and ideas
Friends say they're so happy
My friends tell me that they're overjoyed and content with their lives
Friends say they're well-fed
They also tell me that they have all their basic needs met
They're well-drugged and laid and entertained
On top of that, they have plenty of opportunities to have fun and relax
So beautiful and deadly boring
But even with all of that, their lives feel boring and uneventful to me
Can't you see the landmines so well-placed underneath the skin?
Can't you recognize the potential dangers and risks that are hidden just beneath the surface?
Set to go off in your face
Those risks are waiting to explode and cause problems for you
How can I hear Your voice with the noise in my head?
With all of the chaos and distractions in my life, it's hard for me to connect with God or hear any sort of religious message
All the clamor for attention from the dying and the dead
Instead, all I can hear are the cries for attention and help from those who are suffering or struggling
Hey, can I come in my chains?
Can I join you even though I'm feeling trapped and oppressed?
Can I come empty-handed?
Is it okay if I don't have anything to offer or contribute?
Can I come empty-hearted?
Even though I'm feeling lost and hopeless, can I still come to you for support?
You say You demand it
Even though my life feels like a mess, you're telling me that you require me to come to you anyways
I lie to myself
Despite all of this, I still tell myself that everything is okay
It's long-overdue
But deep down, I know that I need to make some changes in my life
Try to make myself believe the truth isn't true
Even though I know that I need to change, I'm trying to convince myself that everything is fine as it is
Contributed by Gabriella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.